Summary of the invention
The objective of the invention is to improve the power generation performance of fuel cell.
Fuel cell according to a first aspect of the invention comprises a plurality of generating bodies and a plurality of slider.Each generating body has first electrode and second electrode.Each slider has: first surface, and it is in the face of one first electrode in the generating body; Second surface, it is in the face of another second electrode in the generating body; First reaction gas passage, it is used for to supplying with first reacting gas in the face of first electrode of first surface or discharging first reacting gas from first electrode in the face of first surface; And second reaction gas passage, it is used for to supplying with second reacting gas in the face of second electrode of second surface or discharging second reacting gas from second electrode in the face of second surface.First reaction gas passage is extended in slider and is had the opening portion at the first surface split shed at its place, end.Second reaction gas passage is extended in slider and is had the opening portion at the second surface split shed at its place, end.When slider and generating body were stacked, at least a portion of the opening portion of at least a portion of the opening portion of first reaction gas passage and second reaction gas passage was disposed in the slider along the first in the face of the peripheral boundary of the power generation region of generating body.
According to the fuel cell according to first aspect, the opening portion and in each slider, extending of in each slider, extend to make supplying with or discharge the passage of first reacting gas makes the opening portion of the passage of supplying with or discharge second reacting gas all arrange along the same part of power generation region.As a result, can make first reacting gas and second reacting gas parallel flows in power generation region.Therefore, can improve the power generation performance of the fuel cell of introducing slider, wherein in this slider, have the passage that is used to supply with or discharge reacting gas.
In fuel cell according to first aspect; First reaction gas passage can be the first reacting gas discharge-channel that is used for discharging from first electrode first reacting gas; And slider may further include the first reacting gas feed path; This first reacting gas feed path is set for to first electrode in the face of first surface and supplies with first reacting gas; And in slider, extend and have opening portion at the first surface split shed in the end of the first reacting gas feed path; The opening portion of the first reacting gas discharge-channel can arrange along first, and the opening portion of the first reacting gas feed path can be along arranging with the second portion across the peripheral boundary of the power generation region of power generation region first relative positioning.Therefore, first reacting gas flows to the first of the peripheral boundary of power generation region from second portion, and second reacting gas flows or flows to first from first.Thus, can make first reacting gas and second reacting gas parallel flowing in power generation region, and can improve the power generation performance of fuel cell.
In fuel cell according to first aspect; Second reaction gas passage can be the second reacting gas feed path that is used for supplying with to second electrode second reacting gas; And each slider may further include the second reacting gas discharge-channel; This second reacting gas discharge-channel is set for from second electrode in the face of second surface and discharges second reacting gas; And in slider, extend and have opening portion at the second surface split shed in the end of the second reacting gas discharge-channel; The opening portion of the second reacting gas feed path can be arranged along first, and the opening portion of the second reacting gas discharge-channel can be arranged along second portion.Therefore, first reacting gas flows to the first of the peripheral boundary of power generation region from second portion, and second reacting gas flows to second portion from first.As a result, can make first reacting gas and second reacting gas parallel and mobile in the opposite direction in power generation region.Therefore, can further improve the power generation performance of fuel cell.
In the fuel cell according to first aspect, the flow direction in first reaction gas passage can be basically perpendicular to first, and the flow direction in second reaction gas passage can be basically parallel to first.Therefore, be arranged in each slider under the situation that first reaction gas passage and second reaction gas passage can not have to disturb between them.
In the fuel cell according to first aspect, each slider can comprise a plurality of first reacting gas feed paths, and the first reacting gas feed path can be arranged such that the pressure loss of the first reacting gas feed path becomes and is equal to each other.Therefore, can make the gas flow in the first reacting gas feed path even.As a result, can make the supply of first reacting gas even, thereby can improve the generating capacity of fuel cell.
In fuel cell according to first aspect; Each slider may further include the first reacting gas pipeline and the second reacting gas pipeline; The first reacting gas pipeline communicates with the other end of first reaction gas passage and penetrates slider; And the second reacting gas pipeline communicates with the other end of second reaction gas passage and penetrate slider; And second reaction gas passage can have the channel width that narrows down along with the distance increase of the second reacting gas pipeline; And be similar to the channel width of second reaction gas passage, the channel width of the opening portion of second reaction gas passage also can increase along with the distance with the second reacting gas pipeline and narrow down.The pressure loss that therefore, can suppress second reaction gas passage effectively.
Fuel cell according to first aspect may further include porous body; This porous body is arranged between another the second surface of second electrode and slider in the generating body and second reacting gas flows in this porous body, and the external shape of porous body can form and makes the opening portion of second reaction gas passage that forms in the second surface extend.Therefore, can further suppress second reacting gas in the pressure loss that when the second reacting gas pipeline flows to porous body, experiences.
In the fuel cell according to first aspect, the external shape of power generation region can be the essentially rectangular shape, and first can be the part of basically extending along the whole length of the first side of rectangular shape.And; Slider may further include the first reacting gas pipeline and the second reacting gas pipeline; This first reacting gas pipeline communicates with the other end of first reaction gas passage and penetrates slider; And the second reacting gas pipeline communicates with second reaction gas passage and penetrate slider; And the first reacting gas pipeline can be basically be arranged in the outside of power generation region along the whole length of the first side of power generation region, and the second reacting gas pipeline can be arranged in the outside of power generation region along the second side of the power generation region adjacent with the first side.
In fuel cell according to first aspect; Each slider can have laminar structure; This laminar structure comprise first plate, have second plate of second surface and be arranged in first plate with first surface and second plate between intermediate plate; And first reaction gas passage can penetrate opening portion through first intermediate plate that penetrates intermediate plate and penetrate opening portion with first plate that penetrates first plate and form, and second reaction gas passage can penetrate opening portion through second intermediate plate that penetrates intermediate plate and penetrates opening portion with second plate that penetrates second plate and form.Therefore, utilize the simple structure of wherein stacked three plates can realize above-mentioned slider.
In the fuel cell according to first aspect, first electrode can be a negative electrode, and second electrode can be an anode, and first reacting gas can be oxidizing gas, and second reacting gas can be a fuel gas.
Second aspect of the present invention relates to slider, thereby this slider and a plurality of generating body replace stacked formation fuel cell, and each generating body has first electrode and second electrode.Each slider according to second aspect has: first surface, and it is in the face of one first electrode in the generating body; Second surface, it is in the face of another second electrode in the generating body; First reaction gas passage, it is used for to supplying with first reacting gas in the face of first electrode of first surface or discharging first reacting gas from first electrode in the face of first surface; And second reaction gas passage, it is used for to supplying with second reacting gas in the face of second electrode of second surface or discharging second reacting gas from second electrode in the face of second surface.First reaction gas passage is extended in slider and is had the opening portion at the first surface split shed at the place, end of first reaction gas passage.Second reaction gas passage is extended in slider and is had the opening portion at the second surface split shed at the place, end of second reaction gas passage.When slider and generating body were stacked, at least a portion of the opening portion of at least a portion of the opening portion of first reaction gas passage and second reaction gas passage was along being arranged in the slider in the face of the first of the peripheral boundary of the power generation region of generating body.
If construct fuel cell according to the slider of second aspect through using, can realize with according to essentially identical operation of the fuel cell of first aspect and effect.In addition, be similar to the fuel cell according to first aspect, all right accomplished in various ways is according to the slider of second aspect.
Embodiment
Below will describe fuel cell, constitute the assembly of fuel cell and the sealing integrated component of formation fuel cell based on embodiment with reference to accompanying drawing.
With the total structure of describing according to the fuel cell of the embodiment of the invention.Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are the sketch mapes that illustrates according to the structure of the fuel cell of an embodiment.
As depicted in figs. 1 and 2, fuel cell 100 has stacked structure, wherein replaces stacked a plurality of electricity generation module 200 and a plurality of sliders 600.
As shown in Figure 1, fuel cell 100 is provided with oxidizing gas supply pipeline 110, the oxidizing gas discharge pipe line 120 that is used to discharge oxidizing gas, the fuel gas supply pipeline 130 that is used for fueling gas that are used to supply with oxidizing gas, is used for the fuel gas discharge pipeline 140 of discharge fuel gas, the coolant discharge pipe line 160 that is used to supply with the coolant supply pipeline 150 of coolant and is used to discharge coolant.Usually use air as oxidizing gas.Usually use hydrogen as fuel gas.Oxidizing gas and fuel gas also all are called reacting gas.Can make water, such as the anti-icing fluid of ethylene glycol etc., air or the like as coolant.
With reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, with the structure of describing electricity generation module 200.Fig. 3 is the diagrammatic sketch of front view (view that the right side from Fig. 2 obtains) that electricity generation module 200 is shown.Fig. 4 is the sectional view that the I-I plane in Fig. 3 obtains.Fig. 4 is illustrated in two sliders 600 on electricity generation module 200 next doors, and two sliders 600 are clipped in the middle electricity generation module 200 when structure fuel cell stacked structure.
Electricity generation module 200 is by laminate member 800 and seal member 700 structures.
As shown in Figure 4, laminate member 800 is constructed through stacked generating body 810, anode-side diffusion layer 820, cathode-side diffusion layer 830, anode-side porous body 840 and cathode side porous body 850.The parts 820 to 850 that constitute laminate member 800 are plate-shaped member, have the essentially identical shape with following power generation region DA in the view of plate-shaped member on stacked direction.
In the present embodiment, generating body 810 is an ion exchange membrane, and ion exchange membrane has the catalyst layer that is applied as negative electrode on one surface, and on its another surface, has the catalyst layer (catalyst layer is not shown) that is applied as anode.Ion exchange membrane is formed by fluoro resin material or hydrocarbon-based resin material and in dampness, has a good ionic conductivity.Catalyst layer comprises for example platinum or platinum and other metal alloy.
Anode-side diffusion layer 820 is arranged to contact with the anode-side surface of generating body 810, and cathode-side diffusion layer 830 is arranged to contact with the cathode-side surface of generating body 810.Anode-side diffusion layer 820 and cathode-side diffusion layer 830 are through for example being formed by the carbon fabric that line forms of knitting of carbon fiber, carbon paper or carbon felt.
Anode-side porous body 840 is arranged in the anode-side of generating body 810, wherein between them, accompanies anode-side diffusion layer 820.Cathode side porous body 850 is arranged in the cathode side of generating body 810, wherein between them, accompanies cathode-side diffusion layer 830.When electricity generation module 200 and slider 600 stacked when forming fuel cell 100; Cathode side porous body 850 contacts with the power generation region DA of slider 600 on being arranged in cathode side, and anode-side porous body 840 contacts with the power generation region DA of another slider 600 on being arranged in anode-side.Anode-side porous body 840 is formed by the porous material with gas diffusibility and conductivity with cathode side porous body 850, such as metal porous body.Anode-side porous body 840 is higher than anode-side diffusion layer 820 and cathode-side diffusion layer 830 with cathode side porous body 850 on porousness, and on the internal gas flow resistance, is lower than anode-side diffusion layer 820 and cathode-side diffusion layer 830.Anode-side porous body 840 is used as the passage that reacting gas flows with being described below with cathode side porous body 850.
Seal member 700 is arranged in the entire circumference of the periphery of laminate member 800 on its in-plane.Seal member 700 is processed through injection molding, and this injection molding is through carrying out in the cavity that moulding material is injected into mould, and the peripheral end portion of laminate member 800 is exposed to the cavity of this mould.Therefore, seal member 700 is seamless and integrated airtightly with the peripheral end portion of laminate member 800.For example rubber or elastomer form seal member 700 by the material that in the operating temperature range of fuel cell, has air-tightness, elasticity and thermal resistance.Particularly, can use silicone base rubber, butyl rubber, acrylic rubber, natural rubber, fluorocarbon rubber, ethylene/propylene thiazolinyl rubber, styrene-based elastomer, fluorocarbon elastomer etc.
Seal member 700 has support section 710 and is arranged on support section 710 both sides and forms the flange (rib) 720 of potted line.Like Fig. 3 and shown in Figure 4, support section 710 has corresponding to the perforation of pipeline 120 to 160 shown in Figure 1 (pipeline hole).When electricity generation module 200 and slider 600 are stacked, thereby flange 720 closely is attached to the gap of 600 sealings of adjacent slider and slider 600, prevents reacting gas (being hydrogen and air in the present embodiment) and leakage of cooling water.Flange 720 form surrounding layer pressure parts 800 entire periphery potted line and around the potted line of the entire periphery in each pipeline hole.
Next, with reference to Fig. 5 to Fig. 8, with the structure of describing slider 600.Slider 600 is made up of positive plate 300, minus plate 400 and intermediate plate 500.
Fig. 5 to Fig. 7 is the sketch map of shape (Fig. 7) of shape (Fig. 6) and the intermediate plate 500 of shape (Fig. 5) that minus plate 400 in the present embodiment is shown respectively, positive plate 300.Fig. 5, Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 illustrate the observed plate 400,300 and 500 in right side from Fig. 2.Fig. 8 is the front view of the slider in the present embodiment.In Fig. 5 to Fig. 8; The region D A of the core of each is in the face of the zone of the generating body 810 in the laminate member 800 that is included in electricity generation module 200 when slider 600 and electricity generation module 200 are stacked in plate 300,400,500 shown by dashed lines and the slider 600; That is, wherein actual zone of carrying out generating (below be called " power generation region DA ").Because generating body 810 is rectangles, so power generation region DA also is rectangle naturally.In the following description, the upper side edge S1 of the power generation region DA among Fig. 5 to Fig. 8 will be called as the first side.Similarly, the right edge S2 of power generation region DA will be called as the second side, and lower side S3 will be called as the 3rd side, and left side S4 will be called as four side.First side S1 and the 3rd side S3 are against each other.Similarly, second side S2 and four side S4 are against each other.First side S1 and second side S2 are adjacent one another are.Similarly, second side S2 and the 3rd side S3, the 3rd side S3 and four side S4 and four side S4 and first side S1 are sides adjacent one another are.
Minus plate 400 is for example formed by stainless steel.Minus plate 400 has six pipelines and forms part 422 to 432, oxidizing gas supply slit 440 and oxidizing gas discharge slit 444, as the opening portion that penetrates that on thickness direction, penetrates minus plate 400.It is the opening portions that penetrate that when structure fuel cell 100, are used to form above-mentioned various pipelines that pipeline forms part 422 to 432.Pipeline forms the outside that part 422 to 432 is arranged on power generation region DA.It is elongated hole that S1 is arranged in the inner essentially rectangular of power generation region DA along the first side that oxidizing gas is supplied with slit 440.Oxidizing gas supply with slit 440 basically along the first side the whole length of S1 arrange.Be similar to oxidizing gas and supply with slit 440, oxidizing gas discharge slit 444 is elongated hole of essentially rectangular and to be arranged in power generation region DA along the 3rd side S3 inner.Oxidizing gas discharge slit 444 forms along the whole length of the 3rd side S3 basically.
Be similar to minus plate 400, positive plate 300 is for example formed by stainless steel.Be similar to minus plate 400, positive plate 300 has six pipelines and forms part 322 to 332, fuel gas supply slit 350 and fuel gas discharge slit 354, as the opening portion that penetrates that on thickness direction, penetrates positive plate 300.It is the opening portions that penetrate that when structure fuel cell 100, are used to form above-mentioned various pipelines that pipeline forms part 322 to 332.As in the minus plate 400, pipeline forms the outside that part 322 to 332 is arranged on power generation region DA.Fuel gas supply slit 350 makes when constructing slider 600 not overlapping with the oxidizing gas discharge slit 444 of minus plate 400 along the inside that the 3rd side S3 is arranged in power generation region DA.Fuel gas discharge slit 354 inside that S1 is arranged in power generation region DA along the first side makes when structure slider 600 not overlapping with the oxidizing gas supply slit 440 of minus plate 400.
Be similar to plate 300,400, intermediate plate 500 is for example formed by stainless steel.Intermediate plate 500 has four pipelines that are used for supply/discharging reacting gas (oxidizing gas or fuel gas) and forms part 522 to 528, a plurality of oxidizing gas feed path formation part 542, a plurality of oxidizing gas discharge-channel formation part 544, fuel gas supply passage formation part 546 and fuel gas discharge channel formation part 548, as the opening portion that penetrates that on thickness direction, penetrates intermediate plate 500.Intermediate plate 500 also has a plurality of coolant guiding channels and forms part 550.It is the opening portions that penetrate that when structure fuel cell 100, are used to form above-mentioned various pipelines that pipeline forms part 522 to 528.As in minus plate 400 and the positive plate 300, pipeline forms the outside that part 522 to 528 is arranged on power generation region DA.
Each coolant guiding channel forms part 550 and has the elongated hole shape of in Fig. 8, striding power generation region DA extension on the left and right directions, and its two ends arrive the outside of power generation region DA.Particularly, each coolant guiding channel forms part 550 and is formed second side S2 and the four side S4 that strides across power generation region DA.Coolant guiding channel forms on the above-below direction of part 550 in Fig. 8 between them, to leave predetermined space and to put.
The end that each oxidizing gas feed path forms part 542 is communicated with pipeline formation part 522, and just, the oxidizing gas feed path forms part 542 and forms the pectination perforation as a whole with pipeline formation part 522.The opposed end of each oxidizing gas feed path formation part 542 extends to when engaging three plates with structure slider 600 and the oxidizing gas of minus plate 400 is supplied with slit 440 position overlapped.As a result, when structure slider 600, the oxidizing gas feed path forms part 542 and is communicated with oxidizing gas supply slit 440 separately.As shown in Figure 7, the oxidizing gas feed path forms part 542 and is of similar shape, that is, and and the elongated hole shape of equal length L and same widths W.The oxidizing gas feed path forms part 542 and forms between it, to leave equal intervals t.It is parallel that the oxidizing gas feed path forms part 542, and its length is basically perpendicular to the first side S1 of power generation region DA and extends.
The end that each oxidizing gas discharge-channel forms part 544 is communicated with pipeline formation part 524, and just, the oxidizing gas discharge-channel forms part 544 and forms the pectination perforation as a whole with pipeline formation part 524.The opposed end that each oxidizing gas discharge-channel forms part 544 extends to when engaging three plates with structure slider 600 and oxidizing gas discharge slit 444 position overlapped of minus plate 400.As a result, when structure slider 600, the oxidizing gas discharge-channel forms part 544 and is communicated with oxidizing gas discharge slit 444 respectively.As shown in Figure 7, the oxidizing gas discharge-channel forms part 544 and is of similar shape, that is, and and the elongated hole shape of equal length L and same widths W.The oxidizing gas discharge-channel forms part 544 and forms between it, to leave equal intervals t.It is parallel that the oxidizing gas discharge-channel forms part 544, and its length is basically perpendicular to the 3rd side S3 of power generation region DA and extends.
The end that the fuel gas supply passage forms part 546 is communicated with pipeline formation part 526.The fuel gas supply passage forms part 546 and is not striding second side S2 with oxidizing gas discharge-channel formation part 544 position overlapped places and extending along the 3rd side S3.Near the four side S4 of the opposed end arrival power generation region DA of fuel gas supply passage formation part 546.Just, the fuel gas supply passage forms part 546 basic whole length extensions along the 3rd side S3.In the fuel gas supply passage forms part 546, be positioned at the inner part of power generation region DA when engaging three plates with structure slider 600 and the fuel gas supply slit 350 of positive plate 300 overlapping.As a result, when structure slider 600, the fuel gas supply passage forms part 546 and is communicated with fuel gas supply slit 350.
The end that fuel gas discharge channel forms part 548 is communicated with pipeline formation part 528.Fuel gas discharge channel forms part 548 and is not striding four side S4 and the S1 extension along the first side with oxidizing gas feed path formation part 542 position overlapped places.Near the second side S2 of the opposed end arrival power generation region DA of fuel gas discharge channel formation part 548.Just, fuel gas discharge channel forms the part 548 whole length extension of S1 along the first side basically.In fuel gas discharge channel forms part 548, be positioned at the inner part of power generation region DA when engaging three plates with structure slider 600 and the fuel gas discharge slit 354 of positive plate 300 overlapping.As a result, when structure slider 600, fuel gas discharge channel forms part 548 and is communicated with fuel gas discharge slit 354.
Fig. 8 illustrates the front view through the slider 600 that uses plate 300,400,500 manufacturings.Through the feasible intermediate plate 500 of clamping of two opposite sides that positive plate 300 and minus plate 400 joined to intermediate plate 500; And block the exposed portions serve that (blank) is arranged in the intermediate plate 500 in the zone corresponding with coolant supply pipeline 150 and coolant discharge pipe line 160, make slider 600 thus.The method that is used to engage three plates for example can be hot press, soldering, welding etc.The result; Obtain slider 600, it has as six pipelines 110 to 160 that penetrate opening portion among Fig. 8 shown in the shade, a plurality of oxidizing gas feed path 650, a plurality of oxidizing gas discharge-channel 660, fuel gas supply passage 630, fuel gas discharge channel 640 and a plurality of coolant guiding channel 670.
As shown in Figure 8, in slider 600, oxidizing gas supply pipeline 110 is formed on the outside of power generation region DA along first side S1, on the whole length of first side S1.In slider 600, oxidizing gas discharge pipe line 120 is formed on the outside of power generation region DA along the 3rd side S3, on the whole length of the 3rd side S3.In slider 600, the end portion of fuel gas supply pipeline 130 S2 along the second side forms, and the remainder of coolant discharge pipe line 160 S2 along the second side forms.In addition, in slider 600, fuel gas discharge pipeline 140 forms along the upper part of four side S4, and coolant supply pipeline 150 is along the remainder formation of four side S4.
As shown in Figure 8, the oxidizing gas feed path that each oxidizing gas feed path 650 is supplied with slit 440 and intermediate plate 500 through the oxidizing gas of minus plate 400 forms the formation of one of part 542.Each oxidizing gas feed path 650 is inner passages current in slider 600; One end thereof is communicated with oxidizing gas supply pipeline 110; The other end arrives the surface (cathode-side surface) on minus plate 400 sides, and has the opening in cathode-side surface.The opening portion of the other end of each oxidizing gas feed path 650 is supplied with slit 440 corresponding to oxidizing gas, as from visible Fig. 8.Oxidizing gas feed path 650 is of similar shape and identical size.
As shown in Figure 8, each oxidizing gas discharge-channel 660 forms the formation of one of part 544 through the oxidizing gas discharge slit 444 of minus plate 400 and the oxidizing gas discharge-channel of intermediate plate 500.Each oxidizing gas discharge-channel 660 is inner passages current in slider 600, and one end thereof is communicated with oxidizing gas discharge pipe line 120, and the other end arrives the cathode-side surface on minus plate 400 sides, and has the opening in cathode-side surface.The opening portion of the other end of each oxidizing gas discharge-channel 660 is corresponding to oxidizing gas discharge slit 444, as from visible Fig. 8.Oxidizing gas discharge-channel 660 is of similar shape and identical size.
As shown in Figure 8, fuel gas discharge channel 640 forms part 548 formation through the fuel gas discharge slit 354 of positive plate 300 and the fuel gas discharge channel of intermediate plate 500.Fuel gas discharge channel 640 is inner passages, is communicated with fuel gas discharge pipeline 140 in one end thereof, and has the opening in the surface of positive plate 300 sides (anode-side surface) in its other end.The opening portion of the other end of fuel gas discharge channel 640 is corresponding to fuel gas discharge slit 354, as from visible Fig. 8.
As shown in Figure 8, fuel gas supply passage 630 forms part 546 formation through the fuel gas supply slit 350 of positive plate 300 and the fuel gas supply passage of intermediate plate 500.Fuel gas supply passage 630 is inner passages, is communicated with fuel gas supply pipeline 130 in one end thereof, and has the opening in anode-side surface in its other end.The opening portion of the other end of fuel gas supply passage 630 is corresponding to fuel gas supply slit 350, as from visible Fig. 8.
As shown in Figure 8; Coolant guiding channel 670 forms part 550 (Fig. 7) through the coolant guiding channel that in intermediate plate 500, forms and forms; All be communicated with at the one end thereof place, and all be communicated with coolant discharge pipe line 160 at its place, the other end with coolant supply pipeline 150.
As from understandable the top description; A plurality of oxidizing gas feed paths 650 are parallel to the flow direction (perpendicular to first side S1 and the 3rd side S3) in power generation region DA with a plurality of oxidizing gas discharge-channels 660 and arrange, fuel gas discharge channel 640 is arranged perpendicular to the flow direction in power generation region DA (being parallel to first side S1 and the 3rd side S3) with fuel gas supply passage 630 simultaneously.This structure makes the passage 630,640,650,660 in slider not disturb each other.
To the operation according to the fuel cell 100 of present embodiment be described with reference to Fig. 9 A and Fig. 9 B of the operational illustrations that fuel cell is shown.Fig. 9 A and Fig. 9 B are the sketch mapes that flows that the reacting gas of fuel cell is shown.For ease of understanding, Fig. 9 A and Fig. 9 B only illustrate the state of wherein stacked two electricity generation modules 200 and two sliders 600.Fig. 9 A illustrates the sectional view corresponding to the II-II plane among Fig. 8.In Fig. 9 B, the right half side sectional view that illustrates corresponding to the IV-IV plane among Fig. 8, the half side sectional view that illustrates corresponding to the III-III plane among Fig. 8 in a left side.
Supplying oxidation gas to oxidizing gas supply pipeline 110 and fuel gas supply is arrived under the situation of fuel gas supply pipeline 130, fuel cell 100 generates electrical power.During the generating of fuel cell 100, coolant is supplied to coolant supply pipeline 150, so that suppress because the heat that relates in the generating generates the temperature rising of caused fuel cell 100.
Shown in the arrow among Fig. 9 A; The oxidizing gas that supplies to oxidizing gas supply pipeline 110 transmits via oxidizing gas feed path 650 from oxidizing gas supply pipeline 110, and supplies to negative electrode porous body 850 via the opening portion of the oxidizing gas feed path 650 in the cathode-side surface.The oxidizing gas that supplies to negative electrode porous body 850 is such mobile from top to bottom in being used as the negative electrode porous body 850 of oxidizing gas passage shown in Fig. 8 hollow core arrow.Then, oxidizing gas flows in the oxidizing gas discharge-channel 660 via the opening portion of the oxidizing gas discharge-channel 660 in the cathode-side surface, and is discharged in the oxidizing gas discharge pipe line 120 via oxidizing gas discharge-channel 660.The part of the oxidizing gas that in each cathode side porous body 850, flows with whole cathode-side diffusion layer 830 that cathode side porous body 850 contact in spread, and in cathode reaction, be consumed (for example, 2H
++ 2e
-+ (1/2) O
2→ H
2O).
Shown in the arrow among Fig. 9 B; The fuel gas that supplies to fuel gas supply pipeline 130 transmits via fuel gas supply passage 630 from fuel gas supply pipeline 130, and supplies to anode-side porous body 840 via the opening portion of the fuel gas supply passage 630 in the anode-side surface.The fuel gas that supplies to anode-side porous body 840 is such mobile from top to bottom in being used as the anode-side porous body 840 of fuel gas channel shown in filled arrows among Fig. 8.Then, fuel gas flows in the fuel gas discharge channel 640 via the opening portion of the fuel gas discharge channel in the anode-side surface 640, and is discharged in the fuel gas discharge pipeline 140 via fuel gas discharge channel 640.The part of the fuel gas that in each anode-side porous body 840, flows with whole anode-side diffusion layer 820 that anode-side porous body 840 contact in spread, and in anode reaction, be consumed (for example, H
2→ 2H
++ 2e
-).
The coolant that supplies to coolant supply pipeline 150 supplies to the coolant guiding channel 670 from coolant supply pipeline 150.The coolant that supplies to each coolant guiding channel 670 flows to the other end and is discharged into the coolant discharge pipe line 160 from an end of coolant guiding channel 670.
According to the foregoing description, as shown in Figure 8, the opening portion of the opening portion of oxidizing gas feed path 650 and fuel gas discharge channel 640 is all along the first side S1 of power generation region DA, arrange on the whole length of first side S1 basically.In addition, the opening portion of the opening portion of oxidizing gas discharge-channel 660 and fuel gas supply passage 630 is all arranged along the 3rd side S3 of power generation region DA, and is particularly, basic on the whole length of the 3rd side S3.As a result, can so that the oxidizing gas of being supplied with along the plane (in-plane) of generating body 810 mobile direction (hollow arrow by among Fig. 8 illustrates) and the fuel gas supplied with along the plane (in-plane) of generating body 810 mobile direction (filled arrows by among Fig. 8 illustrates) parallel.In addition, be first side S1 side because the supply side of fuel gas is the supply side of the 3rd side S3 side and oxidizing gas, therefore make the flow direction parallel and opposite each other (Fig. 8) of two kinds of reacting gass.This type of flow of reacting gas will be called as reverse flow in this manual.
It should be understood that with related art in the type of flow (cross flow one) that oxidizing gas and fuel gas flow on orthogonal direction is compared, the generating that utilizes reverse flow to carry out has improved the power generation performance of fuel cell.
In addition, oxidizing gas feed path 650 is identical on shape and size.In addition, oxidizing gas discharge-channel 660 also is identical on shape and size.Therefore, can make oxidizing gas feed path 650 consistent with the pressure loss in the oxidizing gas discharge-channel 660.As a result, can make that to supply to the flow of oxidizing gas of each cathode side porous body 850 through oxidizing gas feed path 650 even.Therefore, can make the supply of oxidizing gas even on whole generating region D A, thereby can improve power generation performance.
And in the present embodiment, the oxidizing gas feed path 650 that extends in parallel with the flow direction (hollow arrow by among Fig. 8 illustrates) of oxidizing gas among the power generation region DA is arranged into the other end from the end of the first side S1 of power generation region DA.Similarly, with power generation region DA in the oxidizing gas discharge-channel 660 that extends in parallel of the flow direction of oxidizing gas be arranged into the other end from the end of the 3rd side S3 of power generation region DA.Therefore, make that the pressure loss that relates in the supply of oxidizing gas is lower, and it is even further to make oxidizing gas arrive the supply of power generation region DA.
On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the number of the number of fuel gas supply passage 630 and fuel gas discharge channel 640 all is one.Because S1 forms a fuel gas discharge channel 640 along fuel gas supply passage 630 of the 3rd side S3 formation and along the first side, realize the supply of fuel gas to whole generating region D A.Act as a fuel the hydrogen of gas on diffusivity greater than airborne oxygen as oxidizing gas.(be noted herein that diffusivity depends primarily on diffusion coefficient and concentration gradient.The diffusion coefficient of hydrogen is about four times of oxygen.In addition, fuel gas used herein is pure hydrogen (density of hydrogen about 100%), and oxidizing gas is air (oxygen concentration about 20%).Therefore; Be appreciated that; The diffusivity of the hydrogen in the diffusivity of the oxygen in the oxidizing gas and the fuel gas is compared quite low) therefore, a fuel gas supply passage 630 and a fuel gas discharge channel 640 the amounts of hydrogen that enough provides cell reaction required is set.In other words, the speed of the electrochemical reaction of fuel cell is generally by the reaction (2H at the three phase boundary place of negative electrode
++ 2e
-+ (1/2) O
2→ H
2O) decision.Therefore, the further improvement of adopting the channels configuration of enhanced oxidation gas supply characteristics to bring battery performance.
In addition, oxidizing gas feed path 650 is basically perpendicular to the first side S1 of power generation region DA.As a result, oxidizing gas feed path 650 is basically perpendicular to direction around the potted line (Fig. 3) of power generation region DA, strides under the potted line and extend as the tunnel.As a result, make the minimized while of the length that is positioned at the potted line on the oxidizing gas feed path 650, can guarantee the channel width of each oxidizing gas feed path 650.Similarly, oxidizing gas discharge-channel 660 is basically perpendicular to the 3rd side S3, and be basically perpendicular to potted line direction, stride under the potted line and extend as the tunnel.Similarly, fuel gas supply passage 630 is basically perpendicular to second side S2, and fuel gas discharge channel 640 is basically perpendicular to four side S4.Thereby fuel gas supply passage 630 is basically perpendicular to the potted line direction with fuel gas discharge channel 640, stride under the potted line and extend as the tunnel.As a result, in potted line, make its line length of having living space down minimize, thereby can suppress the deterioration of sealing property.
With reference to Figure 10 to Figure 12, first modification will be described.Figure 10 is the diagrammatic sketch that the shape of the intermediate plate 500a in first modification is shown.Figure 11 is the diagrammatic sketch that the shape of the positive plate 300a in first modification is shown.Figure 12 is the front view according to the slider 600a of first modification.
Slider 600a (Figure 12) in first modification is different from the slider 600 (Fig. 8) among the embodiment of front on the structure (Figure 11) of the structure (Figure 10) of intermediate plate 500a and positive plate 300a.The structure of the minus plate of the slider 600a in first modification is identical with the structure (Fig. 5) of minus plate 400, and also the descriptions thereof are omitted so use same reference numeral.
Aspect the structure of fuel gas supply passage formation part 546a and fuel gas discharge channel formation part 548a, the structure of the intermediate plate 500a in first modification is different from the structure (Fig. 7) of the intermediate plate 500 among the embodiment of front.To form part 546 different with the fuel gas supply passage of intermediate plate 500 in the foregoing description, and the fuel gas supply passage of the intermediate plate 500a in first modification forms part 546a and do not have the uniform channel width.In first modification; The fuel gas supply passage forms in two vertical sides of part 546a; The side that approaches the 3rd side S3 of power generation region DA is parallel to the 3rd side S3, and is not parallel to the 3rd side S3 away from the side of the 3rd side S3 but tilts about the 3rd side S3.The result; Form part 546a for the fuel gas supply passage of the intermediate plate 500a in first modification, the fuel gas supply passage forms the width s2 (Figure 10) of the width s1 of the end on part 546a and the side that pipeline formation part 526 communicates greater than the end on opposite side therein.Similarly, to form part 548 different with the fuel gas discharge channel of intermediate plate 500 in the foregoing description, and the fuel gas discharge channel of the intermediate plate 500a in first modification forms part 548a and do not have the uniform channel width.In first modification; Form in two vertical sides of part 548a in fuel gas discharge channel; The side that approaches the first side S1 of power generation region DA is parallel to first side S1, and is not parallel to first side S1 away from the side of first side S1 but tilts about first side S1.The result; Form part 548a for the fuel gas discharge channel of the intermediate plate 500a in first modification, fuel gas discharge channel forms the width s2 (Figure 10) of the width s1 of the end on part 548a and the side that pipeline formation part 528 communicates greater than the end on opposite side therein.Intermediate plate 500 identical among other structure of intermediate plate 500a in first modification and the front embodiment.Therefore, same configuration shown in Figure 10 is with the identical reference symbol indication of using among Fig. 7, and the descriptions thereof are omitted.
Textural at fuel gas supply slit 350a and fuel gas discharge slit 354a, the structure of the positive plate 300a in first modification is different from the structure (Fig. 6) of the positive plate 300 among the embodiment of front.About the fuel gas supply slit 350a of the positive plate 300a in first modification, the width in this slit is processed the width s2 (Figure 11) that equals to form the end of part 546a with pipeline formation part 526 relative fuel gas supply passages.Fuel gas discharge slit 354a forms in the same manner.Positive plate 300 identical among other structure of positive plate 300a in first modification and the front embodiment.Therefore, same configuration shown in Figure 11 is indicated with the same reference numeral of using among Fig. 6, and with the descriptions thereof are omitted.
The slider 600a that in this modification, is made up of positive plate 300a (Figure 11), intermediate plate 500a (Figure 10) and minus plate 400 (Fig. 5) same with the above-mentioned embodiment has fuel gas supply passage 630a, and its channel width broadens and narrows down towards the side (downstream) away from fuel gas supply pipeline 130 towards the side (upstream side) near fuel gas supply pipeline 130.This structure will be suppressed at the pressure loss of the fuel gas that occurs when flowing through fuel gas supply passage 630a.To illustrate in greater detail its reason.The fuel gas that flows to the fuel gas supply passage 630a from fuel gas supply pipeline 130 supplies to anode-side porous body 840 via the various parts (that is fuel gas supply slit 350a) of the elongated openings of fuel gas supply passage 630a part.Therefore, in fuel gas supply passage 630a, the flow of fuel gas becomes greatly and towards the downstream towards upstream side and diminishes.Thus, the fuel gas supply passage has under the situation of the uniform channel width as among the above-mentioned embodiment therein, and the pressure loss in the fuel gas supply passage becomes greatly and towards the downstream towards upstream side and diminishes.Therefore, if the channel width that makes fuel gas supply passage 630a is as broadening and narrow down towards the downstream towards upstream side in this modification, the pressure loss that then can suppress fuel gas supply passage 630a suppresses its aisle spare simultaneously.From effectively utilizing the angle in slider space, preferably the aisle spare of fuel gas supply passage 630a is as far as possible little.The pressure loss through making fuel gas supply passage 630a is littler, becomes can suppress to supply to the difference between the flow of flow and the fuel gas that supplies to anode-side porous body 840 from the elongated openings part partly away from fuel gas supply pipeline 130 of fuel gas of anode-side porous body 840 from the part near the elongated openings of fuel gas supply pipeline 130 part (fuel gas supply slit 350a).As a result, it is even further to make fuel gas arrive the supply of power generation region DA.As a result, can improve the power generation performance of fuel cell.
In addition, the slider 600a in this modification has fuel gas discharge channel 640a, and its channel width broadens towards a side (downstream) that approaches fuel gas discharge pipeline 140, and narrows down towards the side (upstream side) away from fuel gas discharge pipeline 140.This structure will suppress the pressure loss of fuel gas during process fuel gas discharge channel 640a.Its reason will be described.Fuel gas flows to the fuel gas discharge channel 640a from the various parts of the elongated openings part (fuel gas discharge slit 354a) of fuel gas discharge channel 640a.Therefore, in fuel gas discharge channel 640a, the flow of fuel gas diminishes and becomes big towards the downstream towards upstream side.Then, the channel width of fuel gas discharge channel is as among the above-mentioned embodiment in the uniform situation therein, and the pressure loss in the fuel gas discharge channel diminishes and becomes big towards the downstream towards upstream side.Therefore, if the channel width that makes fuel gas discharge channel 640a narrows down and broadens towards the downstream towards upstream side, then can suppress the aisle spare that the pressure loss suppresses fuel gas discharge channel 640a simultaneously as in this modification.As a result, it is even further to make fuel gas arrive the supply of power generation region DA.As a result, can improve the power generation performance of fuel cell.
With reference to Figure 13 and Figure 14, second modification will be described.Figure 13 is the diagrammatic sketch that the shape of the positive plate 300b in second modification is shown.Figure 14 is the front view of the slider 600b in second modification.
On the structure (Figure 13) of positive plate 300b, the slider 600b (Figure 14) of second modification is different from the slider 600a (Figure 12) of first modification.In addition, the shape of the anode-side porous body 840b that in second modification, uses is different from the shape of the anode-side porous body 840 that uses in the above-described embodiments.The intermediate plate of slider 600b in second modification and the structure of minus plate are identical with corresponding structure in first modification, and will the descriptions thereof are omitted.
Textural at fuel gas supply slit 350b and fuel gas discharge slit 354b, the structure of the positive plate 300b of second modification is different from the structure of the positive plate 300 (Fig. 6) in the foregoing description.Width about the fuel gas supply slit 350b of the positive plate 300b in second modification; Its wider width on a side that forms part 326 near the fuel gas supply pipeline, and its width on a side that forms part 326 away from the fuel gas supply pipeline is narrower.Similarly; Width about the fuel gas discharge slit 354b of the positive plate 300b in second modification; Its wider width on a side that forms part 328 near the fuel gas discharge pipeline, and its width on a side that forms part 328 away from the fuel gas discharge pipeline is narrower.As a result, when structure slider 600b, the fuel gas supply slit 350b of positive plate 300b becomes in power generation region DA and accurately overlaps on the fuel gas supply passage formation part 546a of intermediate plate 500a (Figure 14).Similarly, the fuel gas discharge slit 354b of positive plate 300b becomes in power generation region DA and accurately overlaps on the fuel gas discharge channel formation part 548a of intermediate plate 500a (Figure 14).
Figure 14 is shown in dotted line through single-point and in second modification, uses to construct the shape of the anode-side porous body 840b of fuel cell through use slider 600a.The shape of the anode-side porous body 840b that in this modification, uses is arranged to not with overlapping at the opening portion (fuel gas supply slit 350b) of the opening portion (fuel gas discharge slit 354b) of the fuel gas discharge channel 640b of the anode-side surface split shed of slider 600b or fuel gas supply passage 630b.Particularly; Shown in figure 14, make the parallelogram that is shaped as a side of the middle body that more approaches power generation region DA of each in two opening portions (fuel gas discharge slit 354b and fuel gas supply slit 350b) of anode-side porous body 840b.
According to this modification, fuel gas supply passage 630b has opening, and the width of this opening reduces along with the distance with fuel gas supply pipeline 130 and broadens and along with the distance with fuel gas supply pipeline 130 increases and narrows down.In addition, anode-side porous body 840b has not and opening portion overlapping shape on stacked direction.Therefore, bigger space in forming than the foregoing description and first modification in the zone between the end of fuel gas supply pipeline 130 that passes through its fueling gas and anode-side porous body 840.As a result, can further reduce at fuel gas and flow to the pressure loss that occurs during the end of anode-side porous body 840 from fuel gas supply pipeline 130.As a result, it is even further to make fuel gas arrive the supply of power generation region DA, and can improve the power generation performance of fuel cell.
Similarly, in this modification, form than the foregoing description and first modification in the end side of anode-side porous body 840 and in through the zone between the fuel gas discharge pipeline 140 of its discharge fuel gas in bigger space.As a result, can further reduce the pressure loss that during fuel gas flows to fuel gas discharge pipeline 140 from the end of anode-side porous body 840, occurs.As a result, it is even further to make fuel gas arrive the supply of power generation region DA, and can improve the power generation performance of fuel cell.
Although in the above-described embodiments, the opening portion in the inner passage of the surperficial split shed of slider 600 is generally the slit of elongated hole shape, and this is not restrictive.Figure 15 is the diagrammatic sketch that the shape of the minus plate 400c in the 3rd modification is shown.Figure 16 is the diagrammatic sketch that the shape of the positive plate 300c in the 3rd modification is shown.Shown in figure 15, the minus plate 400c in the 3rd modification is provided with a plurality of oxidizing gas supply hole 440c, replaces the oxidizing gas of the minus plate 400 in the foregoing description to supply with slit 440.S1 arranges oxidizing gas supply hole 440c equally spacedly along the first side, and particularly, the whole length of S1 is aimed at along the first side.In addition, the minus plate 400c in the 3rd modification is provided with a plurality of oxidizing gas discharge orifice 444c, replaces the oxidizing gas discharge slit 444 of the minus plate 400 in the foregoing description.Oxidizing gas discharge orifice 444c arranges along the 3rd side S3 equally spacedly, particularly, aims at along the whole length of the 3rd side S3.Similarly; Shown in figure 16; Positive plate 300c in the 3rd modification is provided with a plurality of fuel gas discharge holes 354c; Replace the fuel gas discharge slit 354 of the positive plate 300 in the foregoing description, and be provided with a plurality of fuel gas supplies hole 350c, replace the fuel gas supply slit 350 of the positive plate 300 in the foregoing description.Fuel gas discharge holes 354c and fuel gas supply hole 350c on stacked direction, respectively not with the oxidizing gas discharge orifice 444c and the oxidizing gas supply hole 440c position overlapped place of minus plate, the whole length of the whole length of S1 and the 3rd side S3 is arranged equally spacedly and is aimed at along the first side respectively.Slider 600 identical in other structure of slider in this modification and the foregoing description, and the general the descriptions thereof are omitted.This modification also realizes and essentially identical operation of the foregoing description and effect.
In the above-described embodiments; Power generation region DA has the essentially rectangular shape; And fuel gas discharge slit 354 is supplied with the first side S1 layout of slit 440 along rectangle power generation region DA with oxidizing gas, and fuel gas supply slit 350 is arranged along its 3rd side S3 with oxidizing gas discharge slit 444.Yet the shape of power generation region is not limited thereto, and can be arbitrary shape.In this case; It satisfies: fuel gas discharge slit 354 is supplied with the first layout of slit 440 along the peripheral boundary of the power generation region of giving shaped with oxidizing gas, and fuel gas supply slit 350 is arranged along the second portion across the power generation region peripheral boundary relative with first with oxidizing gas discharge slit 444.In this case, expectation is included in the whole area of power generation region between first and the second portion.Therefore, fuel gas and oxidizing gas are flowed in parallel with each other but in the opposite direction on the whole area of power generation region, and therefore can improve the power generation performance of fuel cell.
In addition; Although slider in an embodiment 600 is provided with fuel gas discharge pipeline 140 and fuel gas discharge channel 640; But for example therein not from complete dead end (dead end) the type fuel cell of fuel cell exhaust hydrogen, also can omit fuel gas discharge pipeline 140 and fuel gas discharge channel 640.In this case; According to the consumption of generating to hydrogen; Fuel gas supplies to power generation region DA via fuel gas supply pipeline 130 and fuel gas supply passage 630; And from the 3rd side S3 effluent to the first side S1 side, thereby can realize above-mentioned reverse flow and can improve power generation performance.
In addition, although in the foregoing description etc., the material of each parts of laminate member 800 and each parts of slider 600 is appointments, and these materials are not restrictive, but can use various other suitable materials yet.For example, although anode-side porous body 840 and cathode side porous body 850 are all through using metal porous body to form, also can through use other material for example the carbon porous body wait and form anode-side porous body 840 and cathode side porous body 850.In addition, although slider 600 is formed by metal in the foregoing description etc., also can use other material such as carbon to wait and form slider 600.
Although in the above-described embodiments, slider 600 has the wherein structure of stacked three-ply metal, and has flat surfaces corresponding to the part of power generation region DA, also can adopt other arbitrary shape to replace above-mentioned shape.Particularly; Also can adopt be provided with the groove shape reaction gas passage that in surface, forms corresponding to power generation region slider (for example; Process by carbon); Perhaps also can be employed in the slider (for example, processing) that has in the part corresponding to power generation region as the bellows-shaped of reaction gas passage through the press forming of sheet metal.
In addition, although in the above-described embodiments, laminate member 800 is made up of generating body 810, anode-side diffusion layer 820, cathode-side diffusion layer 830, anode-side porous body 840 and cathode side porous body 850, and this is not restrictive.For example, use the slider be provided with reaction gas passage therein or have in the situation as the slider of the bellows-shaped of reaction gas passage, can omit anode-side porous body and cathode side porous body.
Although described embodiments of the invention and its modification above, the invention is not restricted to these embodiment or modification, and can under the situation that does not break away from spirit of the present invention, implement in every way.